Background screen for photographers and the like



Dec. l2, 1944. A, B, CQLEMAN 2,364,695

BACKGROUND SCREEN FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 22, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor' famozd Bari Coleman,

Dec. l2, 1944. A B, COLEMAN y 2,364,695

BACKGROUND SCREEN FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 22, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Attorneys Patented Dec. 12, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEy BACKGROUND SCREEN FOR PHOTOGRAPH- ERS AND THE LIKE Arnold -Bert Coleman, Chicago, Ill. Application November 22, 1943, Serial No. 511,217

' 2 claims. (c1. 16o-24) swung under Asaid bottom `'into out-of-thelway My invention relates to Vimprovementsin background screens for use especially, although not necessarily, by amateur photographers.

VThe principal object of my invention is to provide a light weight, readily portable and collapsible apparatus of simple construction whereby different types of photographic screens may be quickly erected indoors for use selectively Yin4 indoor photography to lend a professional touch to amateur photographs rand which may be easily conditioned for carrying or storage.

Another object is to Vprovide apparatus of the character and for the purposes above set forth which provides a moving picture screen for Inotion pictures and which can be used for still pictures.

Other and subordinate objects are also 'comprehended by my invention, all of which, together with the precise nature of my improvements, will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claims are read with reference to the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification.

In said drawings:

Figure l is a View infperspective of my invention, in its preferred embodiment, the box being closed.

Figure 2 is a view in top box open.

Figure 3 is a view in bottom plan.

Figure 4 is a View in front elevation with one of the screens unrolled and erected.

Figure 5 is a view in end elevation.

Figure 6 is a view in vertical transverse section taken on the line 6--6 of Figure 4 and drawn to an enlarged scale.

Figure 7 is a' View in longitudinal section of one of the supports, and

Figure 8 is a view in transverse section illustrating the manner in which one of the screens is attached to one of the supports.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, my invention in its preferred embodiment comprises a foundation, or base, structure having the form of an elongated narrow box I provided with a lid 2 hinged to on'e side wall 3 of the bo-X, as at plan with the lid of the 44, and provided with a suitable catch 5 for cooperation with a complemental catch member 6 on the other side Wall 'I of said box. A pair of brace bars 8 are provided upon each side of the transverse center of the box I with ends pivoted, as at 9, to the bottom IU of said box so that the bars in each pair may be swung to extend oppositely from opposite sides of said box and brace position when not in use. with a handle I. l

A pair of tubular rollers II, I2, respectively, are provided in the bottom of'said box l to'extend substantially from 'end to end of the box in spaced-apart relation and 'parallel with `each other and with the sidewalls 3, 7. I I I2 are provided with suitable end trunnions I3 journaled in brackets I4 suitablysecured to the bottom I0 o f the box at the ends thereof.

A pair of background-forming screens I5, `I6 of suitable flexible, opaque sheet material are attached in any suitable manner at one end there- The -box I is provided vof to the rollers II, I2, respectively, to be rolled up thereby or unrolled therefrom. I'he other end of each screen I5, I6 is -anchored in the longitudinal center of an edge strip I'I of wood', or the like, provided in one face and adjacent each end thereof with a pair of sockets I8, the sockets of each pair being arranged upon opposite sides of the screen. A coil spring I9 is suitably arranged in each roller II, I2 to rotate the roller in a di-A rection to wind or roll up the screen thereon.

Each side wall 3, Y'I of the box is provided on the inner face thereof with a pair of vertical, internally threaded, tubular keepers 20 arranged adjacent opposite ends of the box above the rollers I I, I2 and the purpose of which will presently appear.

,For use selectively with the screens I5, I6, a pair of extensible telescopic supports are provided, one of which is shown in Figures 5 and 7. The supports each comprise a tubular bottom section 2l having a threaded lower end 22 for turn'- ing into one of the keepers 20, and a rod section the other end of the same 23 slidably mounted in for adjustment into different set positions established by a set screw 24. The upper, or outer, end of the rod 23 is designed to t in the sockets I3 of the strips I1.

One of the screens may be provided with a white side and a black side, the former for use as a white background, also as a moving picture screen and the latter for use as dark background for photography, and the other screen may be designed to present a pleated black and white side 25 for photography and a ,diiferentlycolored and figured side for a like purpose.

In using the described invention, with the box I deposited on a oor, or the like, the brace bars the latter against upsetting, 0r, Sad bars may 70y 55 pasion is :selected and the lower ends 22 of the I'he rollers' the keepers 20 at the side of the box I which will be disposed in the rear of the screen when the latter is drawn upwardly. The screen selected is then unrolled by pulling upwardly on the edge strip I1, and said strip aiixed to the upper ends of the rod sections 23 of said supports by inserting said ends into the sockets I8 at opposite ends of the strip I'I on the appropriate side of the screen to dispose the supports in the rear of the screen. The rod sections 23 of the supports may then be adjusted upwardly to extend the screen upwardly to the desired height. By lifting the strip I1 oif the rod' sections 23 and letting go of the strip, the screen may be wound up on the roller, under the inuence of the associated spring I9, to house the screen and strip in the box I. The supports may then be detached from the keepers 20, contracted by adjusting the sections 23 into the sections 2l, and deposited rin the box lffor safe keeping- With the lid 2 closed and latched, and the brace bars 8 swung under the bottom of the box I, the entire apparatus is conditioned for storage or easy carrying as part of a photographers equipment.

The foregoing will, it is believed, sufficeto impart a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification without departing from the inventive concept, and right is herein reserved to such modications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

` like base structure, a pair of rollers rotatably mounted therein to extend longitudinally thereof along opposite sides of the same, a pair of iiexible sheets of material attached to'said rollers, respectively, for unrolling therefrom into upright position, selectively, and means to sustain the selected sheet in upright position comprising a pair of telescopic sectional supports, keepers on said structure for holding said supports upright and arranged in pairs at opposite sides of the 4structure for selection of a pair on the same or opposite side of the structure as the roller from which the Sheet is selected, and means on one end ofthe selected sheet to attach the same to said supports comprising a at strip having said end of the selected sheet fixed thereto in the longitudinal center thereof and sockets therein upon opposite sides of the sheet for fitting over the upper ends of the supports when the latter are arranged in either pair of keepers. f

Y ARNOLD BERT COLEMAN. 

